CUA is proud to announce the winners of this year’s Right on the Money Awards for Excellence in Financial Education. The awards are given each year to organizations that provide excellent financial education programs to people of all ages, with a special emphasis on unique populations and tailored programs.

The Right on the Money Awards event was held on October 12, 2016 and awards were presented to the following organizations.

Know Your Dough, Durango, CO
Know Your Dough received an award for their outstanding program called the Money Game. Their program reaches about 1,000 K-12 students and young adults in the Durango area. The program teaches all aspects of money management to young people and the organization is the only one of its kind in the area to be focused solely on financial education. Know Your Dough received this award for the second time this year.

Colorado Council for Economic Education, Denver, CO (with State-wide reach)
CCEE’s program, the Stock Market Experience, has impacted tens of thousands of students and teachers across the entire state of Colorado for many years. The program teaches students about economics and financial literacy in a technological and hands-on way. CCEE received this award for the third time this year.

Bayaud Enterprises, Denver, CO
People with disabilities, those who are homeless and very low-income people benefit greatly from the program that Bayaud has developed just for them called Financial Empowerment. Each year, the program reaches over 80 people per year and it is unique because it covers identity theft and other issues that plague their target populations. Bayaud received this award for the third time this year.

Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute, Denver, CO
RMMFI’s approach to financial literacy comes by way of helping people to start small businesses in order to improve their economic security. Their program, called Business Launch Boot Camp, has an extremely high success rate in helping people to start businesses and stay in business. Entrepreneurs ultimately earn a better living and improve their lives significantly. RMMFI has received this award five times over the history of our awards because of their unique approach.

Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation, Westminster, CO & San Luis Valley
CRHDC’s Financial Capability Training is provided to people throughout the Denver metro area and also in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, which is home to some of Colorado’s lowest income rural areas. Their program helps gain control of their money and finances to set them on a path to purchasing a home and having the financial stability that comes with a “set” mortgage payment instead of increasing rents each year. CRHDC receive this award for the second time this year.

Brothers Redevelopment, Denver, CO
A long-time friend of the Denver metro community, Brothers Redevelopment has been rising to every housing challenge that has been presented to people in Colorado. That includes the foreclosure crisis, tenant and landlord issues and the now rising cost of rent. Brothers operates the Colorado Housing Connects Helpline, a vital resource to our community. It is the only housing helpline of its kind in the entire Rocky Mountain Region. The program offers clients knowledgeable assistance navigating through financial, education and other decisions that impact economic status. Brothers Redevelopment received this award for the first time this year.

Moffat County United Way, Craig, CO
In Moffat County, there’s a whole new mentality. Thanks to MCUW, the entire county is on their way to ending poverty through education and resources. MCUW utilizes the Bridges out of Poverty/Getting Ahead program not only to help individuals experiencing poverty, but also to educate and empower the entire area about how to end poverty in Moffat County. The program reaches people of all ages, including children. MCUW is the first organization we know about that has used this program to effect change on such a large scale. They received this award for the first time this year.

Intermountain Salvation Army and the Financial Health Institute, Denver metro area
Thanks to a partnership between Intermountain Salvation Army and the Financial Health Institute, people who are struggling with addiction recovery at the Harbor Light center are getting back on their feet. The Financial Health Institute developed a program that specifically meets the unique financial challenges of their target population. As we all know, being financially stable makes a difference in the amount of stress that people endure and that has a significant impact on addiction recovery. Intermountain Salvation Army and the Financial Health Institute received this award for the first time this year.

Future awards
CUA opens nominations for the Right on the Money awards for financial education every year in the Spring with nominations due in July. Anyone can nominate an organization, school, partnership, church, scout troop, veterans group or any entity that is providing a financial education program that is meeting unique needs for special people in the state of Colorado. Watch our site for our announcement in 2017 and for more details about our requirements for consideration.